WO1989010901A1 - Coupleur optique en verre de fluorure et procede de fabrication - Google Patents

Coupleur optique en verre de fluorure et procede de fabrication Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1989010901A1
WO1989010901A1 PCT/GB1989/000480 GB8900480W WO8910901A1 WO 1989010901 A1 WO1989010901 A1 WO 1989010901A1 GB 8900480 W GB8900480 W GB 8900480W WO 8910901 A1 WO8910901 A1 WO 8910901A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
optic fibres
temperature
fibres
optic
heating
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1989/000480
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Simon Thomas Nicholls
Michael Scott
Original Assignee
British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British Telecommunications Public Limited Company filed Critical British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
Publication of WO1989010901A1 publication Critical patent/WO1989010901A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/245—Removing protective coverings of light guides before coupling
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/2804—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
    • G02B6/2821—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using lateral coupling between contiguous fibres to split or combine optical signals
    • G02B6/2835—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using lateral coupling between contiguous fibres to split or combine optical signals formed or shaped by thermal treatment, e.g. couplers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S65/00—Glass manufacturing
    • Y10S65/15—Nonoxygen containing chalogenides
    • Y10S65/16—Optical filament or fiber treatment with fluorine or incorporating fluorine in final product

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to optical couplers formed from optic fibres composed of fluoride glass.
  • Fluoride type glasses normally containing fluorozirconate
  • fluoride glass includes but is not limited to all the fluoride-containing glasses described in the above papers and all the fluoride-containing glasses within the scope of the disclosure of the above patent application.
  • optic fibres composed of fluoride glass are their increased bandwidth which results in transmission in the far infra-red portion of the spectrum.
  • optic fibres are likely to have future applications in telecommunications, their most important use presently is in optical fibre sensors.
  • For long term stability of the measurements of such sensors there is a need to monitor input power to the sensor for use as a reference, and this is only possible using a directional coupler of some description.
  • optical couplers for fluoride optic fibres in order to enable the power of one laser to be split between a number of sensors, particularly in view of the high cost of the lasers used in such applications.
  • optical couplers from two or more optic fibres by disposing the optic fibres across one another so as to bring their claddings into contact, and ten ⁇ ioning and heating the optic fibres so as to fuse together at least the contacting portions of their claddings.
  • a typical fluoride glasses such as ZBLAN glass can be drawn only over a relatively narrow temperature range as disclosed in Figure 3 of the Br Telecom Technol J article referred to above.
  • the present invention provides a method of forming an optical coupler from two or more optic fibres comprising disposing the optic fibres across one another so as to bring their claddings into contact, and tensioning and heating the optic fibres so as to fuse together at least the contacting portions of their claddings, characterised in that the optic fibres are composed of a fluoride glass and are heated in an oxygen-free atmosphere to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity in the range 100 Pa. ⁇ to 100 kPa.s.
  • optical couplers of fluoride glass may be produced with a reproducable coupling ratio, despite the rapid variation in viscosity with temperature, typically corresponding to a temperature o o range from 300 C to 340 C over the above viscosity range.
  • the temperature employed corresponds to a glass viscosity in the range 1 kPa.s to 10 kPa.s.
  • the temperature is monitored and is controlled by a feedback signal derived from the monitor's temperature.
  • the monitor's temperature is preferably maintained constant at least during one stage of the method to within plus or minus 3 C, more preferably within plus or minus 1 C.
  • the optic fibres are disposed closely adjacent a surface of a heated body so as to be maintained in thermal equilibrium therewith, the feedback signal being derived from the monitored temperature of the heated body.
  • the optic fibre couplers of the invention may be formed using the apparatus disclosed in European Patent Application No. 88302892.0.
  • the optic fibres may be composed of ZBLAN glass and may be heated to a temperature of 323 C plus or minus
  • the tension applied to the optic fibres is controlled in dependence upon the extension of the fibres so as to maintain a stress in the optic fibres which is in the range 10 Pa to 10 Pa, more preferably in the range
  • the invention also includes within its scope optical couplers obtained by a method in accordance with the Invention.
  • the invention includes within its scope apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention, comprising means for tensloning two or more optic fibres along a predetermined axis, a body provided with means for locating it with a surface closely adjacent said axis feedback-controlled heater means for heating said body to a controlled temperature and means for establishing an oxygen-free atmosphere at said axis.
  • oxygen As well as excluding oxygen from the atmosphere surrounding the heated optic fibres, it is also desirable to exclude moisture.
  • a variety of unreactive gases or vapours may be used to exclude oxygen, such as nitrogen, the inert gases, carbon dioxide, and heat—stable unreactive organic compounds such as halo-carbons, particularly fluorinated hydrocarbons.
  • halo-carbons particularly fluorinated hydrocarbons.
  • hydrogen it is undesirable to use hydrogen since this adversely affects the properties of fluoride glass.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic representation, partly in section, of apparatus for forming optical couplers by a method in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the heater and shroud shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of an alternative heater for use in the apparatus of Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is a top plan view of the heater of Figure 3.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of a coupler formed by a method in accordance with the invention.
  • an electric heater 15 is provided which is located (by means not shown) within a shroud 14 through which inert gas such as nitrogen or argon for example at 0.1 bar is conducted through inlet 24.
  • the heater 15 Incorporates a slot 18 which is also shown in Figure 2 and the shroud 14 incorporates the slot 27, the height H of the slot 18 being sufficient to enable the heater and shroud assembly to be lowered over a twisted pair of optic fibres 2, 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow Y.
  • the optic fibres are virtually enclosed by an oxygen-free atmosphere and are located within slot 18 but do not contact the sides thereof.
  • the thickness T of the slot is suitably 0.75mm.
  • the optic fibres 2, 3 are tensioned between a holder 5 and a holder 6, the former being rotatable about its axis by a stepper motor 9 which drives it via a wormwheel 8 and a gear 7.
  • a stepper motor 9 which drives it via a wormwheel 8 and a gear 7.
  • the stepper motor 9 and holder 5 are mounted on a common mounting 10 which is in turn movable on a base 13 in the direction of the tensioned optic fibres by a further stepper motor (not shown).
  • the holder 6 is mounted on an air bearing (not shown) on a mounting 12 which is in turn mounted by a mechanical bearing (not shown) on base 13 and is movable towards and away from mounting 10 via a further stepper motor (not shown).
  • the tension in the optic fibres 2, 3 is measured by a meter 11 which is mounted on mounting 12 and the stress, namely the tension divided by the cross sectional area of the optic fibres, is calculated by a computer (not shown) in dependence upon the original cross section of the optic fibres and the extension of the optic fibres (measured by means not shown) during the operation of the apparatus.
  • the arrangement shown in Figure 1 is set up by splicing the optic fibre onto a laser 1 of the same wavelength as that at which the finished coupler is to operate.
  • a length of free fibre is then prepared for coupling by removing the primary coating and cleaning thoroughly using propanol.
  • the output from that fibre 3 is then calibrated as being 1002 power.
  • This length of fibre 3 is broken off and mounted between holders 5 and 6 ready for coupling.
  • a second length 2 of fibre is then prepared identically but once mounted between holders 5 and 6 remains energised by laser 1 and the output ends of both fibres are inserted into the dual measuring heads of power monitoring equipment 4.
  • two turns are applied to the optic fibre 2 and 3 by the rotatable holder 5.
  • the heater block 15 is then heated by an electric cartridge heater 16 until its temperature as monitored by a thermocouple 17 which extends to a position closely adjacent the walls of slot 18 reaches a temperature of 320 C. This temperature is maintained by a "eurotherm" power controller in dependence upon a feedback signal from the thermocouple 17.
  • the stepper motors (not shown) are then turned on to pull apart the holders 5 and 6 and maintain a stress of 10 Pa in the fibres, corresponding to a tension of 1.25 grammes (0.0123N) for 140 micrometre OD optic fibres. Pulling of the fibres is then maintained until the appropriate coupling ratio, as recorded by the measuring equipment 4, is reached.
  • the length L of the heater block 15 is suitably approximately 10 millimetres.
  • Recesses 19 are provided in the heater block and recesses at 20 are provided in the shroud 14 in order to enable the heater 15 and shroud to be accurately located.
  • the heater 15 and shroud 14 are lifted from the partially fused optic fibres 2 and 3 (which are suitably multimode fibres) and the coupled region is then packaged in a channel 26 ( Figure 5) of a block 28 of either flint glass or float glass with a similar coefficient of thermal expansion to that of the fluoride fibres, thus giving mechanical strength and thermal stability.
  • the coupled fibres 2 and 3 are embedded in channel 26 with epoxy resin.
  • FIGS 3 and 4 show an alternative heater in which the nitrogen or other oxygen-free gas is directed through the heater block 15' via an inlet 24' and exits from an outlet 23 which is formed at the base of a central waisted portion of a slot 18* which is otherwise similar to the slot 18 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Accordingly the shroud 14 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be dispensed with in this embodiment.
  • the heater block 15' is sandwiched between end cheeks 21 of PTFE and communicates with recesses 22 formed in these end cheeks which are adapted to be located on locating supports (not shown).
  • Two cartridge heaters 25 extend downwardly into the heater block 15' as shown in Figure 4 and lie on opposite sides of slot 18'.
  • thermocouple 26 extends downwardly through the heater block 15' to a position closely adjacent the walls of the slot 18'.
  • This heater arrangement may be controlled by a suitable power supply in dependance upon a feedback signal from the thermocouple 26.
  • the width of the slot 18' (corresponding to the dimension T shown in Figure 2) is suitably 0.75mm. at the central waisted portion and the length (corresponding to the dimension L shown in Figure 2) is suitably approximately 10 millimetres.
  • the heater block 15' is suitably made of copper.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)

Abstract

On forme un coupleur obtenu par fusion à partir de deux fibres optiques hélicoïdales (2, 3) en verre de fluorure, en chauffant les fibres dans la fente (18) d'une unité chauffante régulée thermiquement (15) disposée dans une enceinte protectrice (14) contenant une atmosphère sans oxygène. Le verre des fibres peut être constitué par du verre ZBLAN et dans ce cas la température est de l'ordre de 323°C U 10°C. Dans une autre version, on peut se passer de l'enceinte protectrice et un gaz inerte (azote) est injecté dans un trou de la fente (18).
PCT/GB1989/000480 1988-05-09 1989-05-05 Coupleur optique en verre de fluorure et procede de fabrication WO1989010901A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888810907A GB8810907D0 (en) 1988-05-09 1988-05-09 Fluoride glass optical coupler & method of manufacture
GB8810907.9 1988-05-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1989010901A1 true WO1989010901A1 (fr) 1989-11-16

Family

ID=10636574

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1989/000480 WO1989010901A1 (fr) 1988-05-09 1989-05-05 Coupleur optique en verre de fluorure et procede de fabrication

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US5139550A (fr)
EP (1) EP0341911B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2581818B2 (fr)
AT (1) ATE84286T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU612840B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA1336132C (fr)
DE (1) DE68904238T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2037953T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB8810907D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1989010901A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0480453A2 (fr) * 1990-10-12 1992-04-15 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Limited Procédé de fabrication d'un coupleur à fibre optique

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR20030092750A (ko) * 2002-05-31 2003-12-06 한국전자통신연구원 다중 광섬유 커플러 제작장치
DE102004028310B9 (de) * 2004-06-12 2010-10-07 Schott Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen des Abschlusses eines Lichtleitfaserbündels
EA011039B1 (ru) 2004-12-30 2008-12-30 Медивир Аб Приемлемые для лечения вич соединения
GB0513835D0 (en) 2005-07-07 2005-08-10 Medivir Ab HIV inhibitors
CN103809244B (zh) * 2014-02-13 2017-08-29 一诺仪器（中国）有限公司 一种光纤热剥装置的加热控制系统及方法
US11033333B2 (en) 2017-04-06 2021-06-15 Stryker European Holdings I, Llc Plate selection user interface and design tool with database

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US4336047A (en) * 1981-01-02 1982-06-22 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Method for fabricating single-mode and multimode fiber optic access couplers
EP0093460A1 (fr) * 1982-03-22 1983-11-09 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Procédé pour la fabrication d'un élément de couplage à fibre optique
EP0174014A2 (fr) * 1984-09-06 1986-03-12 Hitachi, Ltd. Coupleur en étoile et procédé pour le fabriquer
FR2587502A1 (fr) * 1985-09-19 1987-03-20 Centre Nat Rech Scient Appareil permettant de realiser la fusion et l'etirage de fibres optiques, notamment pour la fabrication de coupleurs

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US4336047A (en) * 1981-01-02 1982-06-22 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Method for fabricating single-mode and multimode fiber optic access couplers
EP0093460A1 (fr) * 1982-03-22 1983-11-09 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Procédé pour la fabrication d'un élément de couplage à fibre optique
EP0174014A2 (fr) * 1984-09-06 1986-03-12 Hitachi, Ltd. Coupleur en étoile et procédé pour le fabriquer
FR2587502A1 (fr) * 1985-09-19 1987-03-20 Centre Nat Rech Scient Appareil permettant de realiser la fusion et l'etirage de fibres optiques, notamment pour la fabrication de coupleurs

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0480453A2 (fr) * 1990-10-12 1992-04-15 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Limited Procédé de fabrication d'un coupleur à fibre optique
EP0480453A3 (en) * 1990-10-12 1992-11-19 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Limited Method of producing optical fiber coupler
US5205851A (en) * 1990-10-12 1993-04-27 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Method and apparatus for producing optical fiber coupler
CN1037028C (zh) * 1990-10-12 1998-01-14 住友电气工业株式会社 制造光纤耦合器的方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE68904238T2 (de) 1993-05-27
GB8810907D0 (en) 1988-06-15
ATE84286T1 (de) 1993-01-15
CA1336132C (fr) 1995-07-04
US5139550A (en) 1992-08-18
AU3574089A (en) 1989-11-29
AU612840B2 (en) 1991-07-18
ES2037953T3 (es) 1993-07-01
JP2581818B2 (ja) 1997-02-12
DE68904238D1 (de) 1993-02-18
EP0341911A1 (fr) 1989-11-15
EP0341911B1 (fr) 1993-01-07
JPH03505008A (ja) 1991-10-31

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